Miles Teller and Jonah Hill Bring Out War Dogs in New York

While it may not feel like the best time in U.S. history to watch a young American man gleefully fire an AK-47 into the air, cackling with abandon, there are such things as creative license and art-as-catharsis, and one could argue that’s exactly what was on-screen Wednesday night at the premiere of WarDogs, held at New York City’s Metrograph theater. (Plus, there’s the matter of Jonah Hill, whose near every move as a bloated blowhard with vaguely sociopathic tendencies was greeted with enthusiastic giggles, regardless of severity.) The film, from director Todd Phillips (of The Hangover fame), is based on a true story detailed in a 2011 Rolling Stone article and follows the questionable decision-making and subsequent misadventures of boyhood friends turned reluctant grown-ups (sound familiar?) who, essentially, bullshit their way into a career as international arms dealers.

The movie stars Miles Teller and Hill, with a surprise third-act entrance of one Bradley Cooper, whose role required a sort of quiet severity and severely bloodshot eyes. Cooper also coproduced the picture, but was not able to partake in Wednesday night’s revelry. “This is my favorite theater in New York,” said a svelte-looking Hill as he introduced the film. “I don’t actually remember it from my time here as a student,” furthered Teller, who retained the bleached hair and eyebrows that caused a stir earlier this year at the ESPYs, “is it new?” It is—the theater, founded by menswear designer Alexander Olch, opened earlier this year and also features a buzzy restaurant—and it’s a big hit with cinephiles and scenesters alike, several of whom turned out for the screening and to sip themed Svedka cocktails upstairs after the film was over.